USCIS announced it was updating the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify that a Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, signed by a civil surgeon on or after Nov. 1, 2023, is only valid while the application the Form I-693 was submitted with is pending. If the application a Form I-693 was submitted with is withdrawn or denied, that Form I-693 is no longer valid. This guidance is effective immediately and applies to applications pending or filed on or after June 11, 2025.
Impacts of this Change: Under this updated policy, if an alien submitted Form I-693 with their Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, and then they withdrew their Form I-485 or USCIS denied it, then if they submit a future Form I-485, they must submit a newly completed Form I-693 signed by a civil surgeon.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
This change is a direct revision to an April 4, 2024, update to the USCIS Policy Manual that stated that a Form I-693 properly completed and signed by a civil surgeon on or after Nov. 1, 2023, was valid indefinitely. USCIS has since determined that the April 4, 2024, policy is overly broad and could potentially threaten public health in the United States. With the current change in the USCIS policy bulletin, limiting the validity of Form I-693 to the current immigration benefit application or request, there is greater certainty of the current health status of the applicant.
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.